KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Jeff King was hunting pheasant just north of Pittsburgh inDecember when the call came. After several hours in the woodswith former Pirates manager Jim Leyland, King returned home andfound his wife, Laura, standing alone in the kitchen.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"I feel good, thanks. How are you?" he said. "What's going on?"

"Well," she said after a long pause, "the Pirates just tradedyou to the Royals."

Cash-strapped Pittsburgh shipped King, a power-hitting firstbaseman who earned $2.5 million last season, and his bestfriend, shortstop Jay Bell, who made $4.5 million, to KansasCity for unproven third baseman Joe Randa and three youngpitchers.

King, who loved playing in Pittsburgh so much that he didn'tapply for free agency when he was eligible in 1995 and probablycost himself several million dollars as a result, thought Lauramight be kidding. After all, the Pirates had selected him withthe No. 1 choice in the '86 amateur draft and had spent a lot oftime and money on him when he struggled at the start of his procareer. Things got so bad, in fact, that he almost walked awayfrom the game. "I stunk in '86, '87 and '88," he says. "And tothis day I'm not sure why I didn't quit. Sure glad I didn't,though."

An Indiana native who owns a 2,200-acre ranch in Montana, Kingleft the kitchen and checked his answering machine. There were17 messages. "That's when I knew she wasn't kidding and that Iwas going to Kansas City," he says. "When the exodus fromPittsburgh started, it was like the wheels were coming off. Iknow the Royals are also a small-market team, but at least Ifeel like they can get players and have a chance to compete."

Kansas City general manager Herk Robinson called the swap"unbelievable." Randa said it was a great deal--for the Royals.Says K.C. manager Bob Boone, "I was excited about the trade. Itinstantly made us a better club."

The Royals, who finished last in the American League Central in1996 and who lost 26 of 40 one-run games, had a bad habit ofstranding base runners. Not knowing where his next run wascoming from forced Boone to manage the first inning as if itwere the ninth.

With 30 homers and 111 RBIs last year (both career highs), Kingbrings power to a team that hasn't had a 30-100 guy since DannyTartabull in 1991. The hitter-friendly parks in the AmericanLeague and the emphasis King placed on bat speed this springunder the tutelage of future Hall of Famer and current Royalsvice president George Brett should increase his power numberseven more.

The presence of King also takes some of the pressure off KansasCity's core of young players, although King prefers to avoid thespotlight. "I've never enjoyed the attention of being in the bigleagues," he says. "I just want to be treated like an averageguy. I don't dislike people. I'm just a quiet person."

King speaks softly, but the Royals are hoping he carries a bigstick.

--DAVID FLEMING

B/W PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER READ MILLER JEFF KING Generating Power for K.C.

RF Michael TuckerCareer average is .222 before All-Star break, .309 after

C Mike Macfarlane Improved average by 49 points from '95 to '96

CF Johnny Damon Had seven RBIs in a game against the Angels last season

Ace Kevin AppierStruck out a career-high 207 batters in '96

Closer Jeff MontgomeryRoyals' alltime save leader, with 242

STAT FACT

Mike Macfarlane has been hit by 86 pitches in 3,271 plateappearances, or once every 38 trips to the plate. Among playerswith at least 2,000 plate appearances, only Ron Hunt (one every25) and Don Baylor (one every 35) were hit with greaterfrequency. Among players who caught at least 500 games, fivewere hit more often than Macfarlane: Carlton Fisk (143), BrianDowning (129), Sherm Lollar (115), Bill Freehan (114) and GeneTenace (91).